Thank you everyone who have Reviewed, Followed, Favorited or even read the prologue and left me in the dirt. I am truly happy how people are beginning to take a liking at this early stage of development; it puts a lot of good energy into making the next chapters and keeping up with my promise of updating as much as I can! ;3 Everyone deserves a cup of pudding in any flavor that they like (because some people just don't like pudding flavors...). Please, everyone to keeps looking into this story, keep up the smiles and good work that you do whenever I add another chapter to Tasting Flesh! Please be looking forward to improving in my grammar and development- Everyone knows I need it, too. QwQ
Have you guys read the book Red Riding Hood? That one story that was made into a movie with Amanda Seyfried from the Mean Girls movie? I have watched the movie after reading the book, and I must advise to anyone who knows of a movie that was based off of a book... Read the book first because we all know the book is better! I don't doubt the director's work into moviemaking, but imaginations will always be stronger if you put pictures with written words C; Just sayin', not hatin'. Anyway, the movie Red Riding Hood was a wonderfully done movie, but...-whispers foolishly- The book is always better. But Amanda Seyfried did a lovely job, too~
QUICK REPLIES TO REVIEWS THAT NEED ANSWERS-
Naraku's Phoenix- -rolls around on fuzzy rug- You're too sweet for those kind words! ;A; Thank you so, so, so much!
harusaki-tsukiko- I wouldn't have blamed you if you thought this story had to do with zombies and such ewe... But I will say that there will be glorious gore, if that helps at all. I dunno what you really meant by how Sakura is in my other stories owo' I usually see her different in each one, you know? But I'm just me. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE MUSIC SUGGESTIONS~ I will listen to them many times and see if they fit the taste I'm looking for! ;D
sasukeisthebest(Guest)- I thank you very much for your kind words and your personal ideas for the story C: I will have to say that it seems a bit to early for me to say is Itachi will have a lucky lady in his arms (although I would not mind myself to be swifted off my feet to his glamorous looks and personality~) But I will take your ideas into consideration!
Anonymous(Guest)- I always feel like I make my stories start out too happy ewe Like that Jim Carrey movie of Series of Unfortunate Events with the happy elf; and then the story isn't about a happy elf and it's all dark a gloomy. Meh, I will try and work on that xD But thank you so much!
Culpa- Serious? ;w; You think it's well written? I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CUPCAKE! THANK YOU!
WildFlamez01- I will definitely try out that song along with another list of music I have been offered from here and close friends C; Thank you so much for your idea.
Welcome to the first official chapter one of Tasting Flesh. I wish you guys the best of luck on your adventure and hope you will do me the honor of Reviewing, Favoriting, Following or just leave and never come back. All you do to please your own day will please me with a rewarding smile on my face! I wish you all a very good day as well. Please take a look at AngeLhearteD's FanFiction profile if you have not already. She is the one who inspired me for this story, and I hope to make her and you proud of my story development!
P.S. For a moment of your time, will you please be so kind to read this: As in my other OTP stories I have on my account, I am asking you, the darling viewers, if I should take on the idea of making a DeviantArt account specifically for my FanFictions. I myself am a occupant of a artist of 'American-style Mangas' yet I know I am not a professional. I feel like this would be fun to do and have others give their creativity a try in drawing. When you have the time, please leave a Review of your thoughts and enjoy the story!
=xxx=
She was his and his alone.
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Her very first heartbeat matched with his perfectly, their spirits molded into one.
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Their lives shared was like the Fairytale you have always dreamed of.
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But then, in the growth of the story, when everything was perfect...
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It stopped.
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It is sad to say...not every story will have a Happy Ending.
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Tasting Flesh
Chapter One
Haruno Sakura walked down the wooden steps from the third floor, where the bedrooms resided, to the second floor living area and kitchen. The aroma of baked goods invaded her nose and was seducing her mind to take her to the designated area. The kitchen was always her favorite to hide, the nice smells and the polite atmosphere always made her feel safe and good; no matter what would go wrong in her day, whatever caused her to be in a grumpy mood of anything at all, the kitchen was always the first place to go for Sakura mostly for one reason only...
A voice lightly startled the pink haired teenager as she stepped into the warm kitchen. "Sakura, my little girl! You're up ontime, aren't you?"
Sakura's bright green eyes saw the short, plump elder woman smile up to her with a wrinkling tease. Her aged teeth glinted when she raised her palm to Sakura's cheek. Chiyo, Sakura's old grandmother from her father's side, always cooked wonderful breakfasts, lunches and dinners that would make anyone's mouth water just by the first sniff. Silver hair and dark eyes, wrinkled like a raisin in the sun with a pale skintone, Chiyo was the sterotypical grandmother you would see only in movies; her personality is like a hyperactive child on a sugar rush, yet sometimes her bones would remind her that she is...a little too old to do cartwheels. Sakura always enjoyed her grandmother's energy and how it would always brighten the mood in any given day.
"Goodmorning, Chiyo-baachan," Sakura's angelic voice escaped her doll-like lips as she smiled. She bent her spine a little and hugged her grandmother in a affectionate snuggle, inhaling the sweet smell of flowers and forest grass that always seem to cling to her clothes and skin. She loved it.
Dressed in her white sundress, Sakura had her hair down as usual and wore no makeup. Makeup was like putting on a mask and refusing to show the world the true beauty someone holds on the outside. She looked very sweet and calm within her pale skintone and pastel hair, being the day's signature colors of March.
Chiyo pat the pink locks that reached Sakura's waist, her hair has grown every since she was a young child. Chiyo was actually the one who suggested for Sakura to grow her hair as long as she could for the family tradition of the females trying to keep long hair until marriage. Sakura really didn't get the meaning of it honestly, but she thought she looked better with it anyway. She would always get nice compliments from people about how shiny her hair looks and different styles that her friend would do during lunch break at school. Breaking the hug, Chiyo scurried in her pink bunny slippers back to the stove and flipped over a pancake, letting Sakura walk quietly to the eating table.
She sat on her shins on the cushioned seat, reaching over her plate and picked up a framed photograph and held it infront of her. She smiled lightly before kissing the glass shield it provided protection for the photo. "Goodmorning, Mother and Father..." She was careful to place the picture back on the table when Chiyo arrived with the finished cooking.
"See how lovely Sakura looks today, Kizashi?" Chiyo smirked teasingly as she plopped two flat cakes on Sakura's plate. "Be polite and comment an almost-adult-woman!"
Sakura blushed a light shade of pink. "Chiyo-baachan, I'm not eighteen yet... Can you save the special treatment until tomorrow?"
"Your father was always a forgetful lad," Chiyo 'humph'-ed, rolling her eyes before strolling back to the stove. "I remember when he forgot the day he was suppose to be marrying your mother and I chased him around the whole town with a belt! Bah! Better say it now or regret it later, that's what I tell your father, Sakura."
Sakura nibbled the pancake from her fork as she allowed Chiyo to continue ranting. The sound of another set of footsteps caught her ears of coming down the stairs, entering a tall redheaded man carrying a tanned fur pug in his hands. His brown eyes caught the glance of Chiyo and jerked, hurrying to his spot next to Sakura before the old woman could step forward with the spatula.
"Morning, Nii-chan," Sakura said with a small smile to her seatmate. Sasori was Sakura's cousin from Kizashi's side of the family, his parents passed away in a accident when he was only a baby and Chiyo took in her grandson and raised him to be a gentlemen... Although, the man will have his ups and downs, but what twenty-year old man wouldn't? She saw him as an older brother figure and their little companion of a canine, Pakkun, joined in the misadventures the children would have growing up. Being young adults now, they are more mature.
"Aa!" Sasori agreed with a yawn, letting Pakkun out of his hold and trot over to his waterdish, lapping up fresh water in naisally swallows. He opened his eyes again to face his cousin, reaching his palm over to press against her forehead and recently cut bangs that was once brushed out of her eyes in a petal-like style to her right. "How do you like the new do I did?"
Sakura twitched, her smile somewhat fake as she spoke in a overly sweet voice. "You may be great with scissors, Nii-chan, but touching my forehead will make you lose a finger or two."
"Touchy," Sasori chuckled in a seductive voice. Sakura always noticed how her cousin always had the girls chasing him night and day, no matter where they went. And she would be ignored by the opposite sex because she was too different. Sasori was served his half of the breakfast and began eating with bites too big for his mouth. "So, did you find out what you want for your birthday tomorrow?"
"I have been thinking what I would like..." Sakura set down her fork and smiled at Sasori's stuffed face, smiling sweet enough to have sugar pouring out of her ears. "I think...I would like to be allowed to go out into town after six!"
Clang!
Sakura spun her head to see that Chiyo had dropped her metal spoon into Pakkun's waterdish, sending splatters of water over the pug's wrinkles face and had him grumble in his husky growl, glaring at the old woman who imitated the same wrinkled stare back before looking at Sakura with the serious expression in her eyes.
"That can not be done, Sakura," Chiyo said in a straight tone. "You know why you can't go out into town at night."
"But, Chiyo-baachan," Sakura blinked, shifting to look at her grandmother with pleading eyes, "even kids who are younger then me go out after six, and they end up just fine! Hotter and more slutty girls get to go out all they want and they don't end up on the milk carton!"
Chiyo has never allowed Sakura wander around town at night, even if Sasori offered to be her personal bodyguard and kick anybody's butt whoever tried to touch a single hair on Sakura's pink head. Being the shrine maiden of the small town of Konoha, apparently Sakura was posted as a target for all the bad people; rapists, perverts, and all the works that Chiyo names off to make the pink haired teen anxious and chicken out on going out and apologize to her grandmother on hands and knees. But, now that Sakura is almost an adult, she feels like she has the right to go out and be like an average young woman.
The duty as a shrine maiden in the Haruno estate seems so easy to Sakura. All she really had to do was assist in Sunday prayers and always go to the hospital after school to spend time with the patients, playing with the children and even help with their homework, help set up the town for festivals and be one of the dancers; all those things that Sakura would love to do every single day of her life and not give a single complaint. She was a lady, a princess of a shrine that teenagers are dragged to by their elders to listen to the stories Chiyo has to say about giving lessons in life: sitting on her shins for long periods of time and wearing a religious kimono that covers her near flat chest and very little curved waist, pink hair that resembled bubblegum or the cherry blossom petals people walk on with their dirty shoes and had eyes the same color as the emerald gems rich women would smash and wear as jewelry.
How does that make her special?
Sakura has never been to any parties with liquor, been to clubs or basement get-togethers. She was a good girl and her only friend could understand her over-protective grandmother and cousin's wish to keep her in the dark; as if she was a precious item that could easily be taken by just being so careless. Sakura wasn't careless and everyone knew that, being the hardworking student at Konoha High School and acing all her classes in honors and even graduation months early before everyone else... Never had alcohol in her life or even gone to second base (not even kissing any boys during spin the bottle that would always landed back on her). She was pure inside and out beside her potty mouth thanks to Chiyo.
After Sakura's parents passing, she hasn't gone downhill like people thought she would.
"Chiyo-baachan, I'm turning eighteen tomorrow and I want Ino to take me out to dinner for my birthday," Sakura looked at her grandmother with serious eyes. She had to be mature about this. "You know I would call you hourly and Ino is a very responsible person, you trust her."
"I do," Chiyo admitted, glancing away. "But, I do not trust others."
"Listen, Sakura," Sasori cut in between the short-tempered women in his life, looking at one and the other after a second or two. "I know you're capable of handling any situation that could occur in the slightest chance it could happen. But, as much as I hate to say it, why not take a home-birthday celebration? I can get take-out and Ino can-"
"We've done that since I was a kid, Sasori," Sakura said without using the usual nickname. "I love to spend time with you guys, but I really want to go out with Ino and socialize!"
"Bah! Everyone knows that Haruno Sakura is the popular shrine maiden in Konoha, let alone the entire Japanese island," Chiyo scoffed and turned back to cook something, probably scraping her anger out on the burned batter. Sakura's eyes didn't look at Chiyo's form anymore, staring at her plate with a blank expression before getting to her feet, bowing her head in a excuse.
"I'll be going now," Sakura mumbled in a polite tune before walking out of the kitchen, heading into the hallway that would lead to the stairs to the first floor of the shrine area and outside: the only place where she felt like a normal person.
Pakkun grunted at Chiyo's covered face and trot after the pink haired teenager, having Sasori glance at Chiyo before taking another bite of his pancake. "You know, you can't hide her forever, Chiyo-baachan..." When Chiyo didn't respond, he sighed and placed his fork down. "Chiyo, you can't keep her here like a prisoner. Why not call-"
"I did, Sasori," Chiyo muttered in a displeased tone. "Same answer as always. 'The damn barriers won't cooperate around this time, Chiyo! Why not accept the fact and go back to your knitting?' Bah! When that ass arrives, I will shove my knitting-stick on his kneecap that he'd go crying to his baby blankey!" She turned off the stove and twirled around, as if she was a young ballerina. "I want you to keep an eye on her for the next few days, Sasori, understand?"
Sasori frowned. He watched Sakura grow up in an over-protected enviroment while he was allowed to do anything he wanted; go out until three in the morning drinking with his partner, Deidara, go and do things that some would consider...odd. He certainly had grown a deep relationship with Sakura, loving her like his own little sister he wish he had before his parents went off on him without another word, so of course he would want to do what he thought Sakura would like.
Pakkun came strolling back in on all fours, glancing at the adults like he had walked into a bad conversation. Chiyo looked at the little pug with a raised grey brow, then looking at Sasori again.
"Pakkun would agree with me about this nonsense," Chiyo declared, pointing a finger at Pakkun. The dog stiffened at the angered tone in the old lady's voice.
"It's not nonsense, Chiyo; this is about Sakura and the fact that she needs a taste of real life for once," Sasori rolled his eyes. He glanced at Pakkun with tired, yet calm eyes. "Pakkun, try not to get involved in this alright? Did Sakura seem upset on her way out?"
Pakkun sat on his bottom, his curly tail wiggled gently as he shrugged. "She didn't pet me behind the ears like she always does, if that's what you're looking for." His gruffy voice was quiet as he eyed Sasori's half-filled plate. Sasori complied by giving the leftovers to the dog by setting the plate on the wooden flooring to have the pug gobble it up, not feeling hungry at all as he watched the dog lick the syrup off his wet nose with his long tongue. "If you really want my opinion, Chiyo, I think you're getting too overboard on this. Why not leave the mess for the big boy to take care of?"
Chiyo's lip twitched in frustration. "You're not helping. If anything was to happen to Sakura, it would be on my head, you little rat!"
"What'cha say, old hag?" Pakkun's face scrunched as he sat up once more, starting to stand his ground compared to the short old woman who was pointing her spoon at him. "Come at me, sister! We'll take it outside with the squirrels as my backup, hooooowl!"
"I can take those bushy-tailed devils, you old bag of fluff! They should use your fur for those Ugg boots!"
Sasori simply got up from his seat and left the room to the old creatures to solve it out themselves.
=xxx=
Haruno Sakura walked through the stoned wall that set the boundaries of holy ground, exhaling into the sunshine as she let a bright smile light her face; her little hands sticking out as she embraced the warmth the closest star to Earth gave in such a giving manner. The thick trees and brush would shield off the sun's light on the pathway to the small town, not that Sakura minded that, she would just rather have the sun follow her when she walks into the free world of Konoha.
Konoha has grown a little bit into the modern style of a small town. Cafe shops, little stripmalls and even a movie cinema that shows the newest movies; still having a country-like style to it, but it will keep the youngsters occupied and not so bored. It would keep Ino sane for the time being.
Speaking of the pig, Yamanaka Ino is Sakura's only friend in the whole world, ever since they were little children in elementary school; meeting each other in art class and the bleaches blonde girl asked why she had bubblegum in her hair. Cute, yes. From that day on, those two were like sisters and did everything possible together.
Without Chiyo trying to take control, of course.
Ino was a party-girl, but had never went to bed with a man that Sakura was aware of. Whenever a boy from her old high school would openly ask the Yamanaka girl out on a date or the dance, the answer is always 'No way!' and walks on stomping on the man's pride. Sure, Sakura never went out, but no one ever asked her to anything because of her status. Sakura was always jealous of her dear friend, but that kind of envious emotion was somewhat strained for a certain reason, a reason of-
"Sakura-chaaan!" A high-pitched voice caught Sakura from her thoughts, her head looking up to see the glamorous blond girl bounding up to her. Meeting her halfway when she squealed and ran for her as well, Ino literally glomped the shrine maiden, snuggling her glittered face into her long, pink hair and inhaled the sweet smell the girl had. When they pulled back from the hug, they stared, then they giggled like children.
"You're gonna be eight-teen, Saku-chan!" Ino pouted sadly as she pinked Sakura's already pink cheeks. "You're gonna leave me in childhood with all those losers from homeroom? How dare you!"
Sakura could only smile and hug Ino again. The blond couldn't say no to her as she complied with the embrace and took the chance to smell her hair again. "Saku-chan, did your grandmother give the okay for tomorrow? The party is suppose to be great!"
"You made the party, Ino..." Sakura reminded with a soft tone before looking down to her sandaled feet. A sad shine in her emerald eyes. "She doesn't want me past curfew, so I think we have to cancel it."
Ino's teal eyes narrowed as she linked her arm with Sakura's pale one, hauling her down the path into the town of Konoha, where people were just getting ready for the day; shopkeepers organizing fruitstands, bookshelves being set outside the little bookmart and the cafe chairs were being placed down with care. The tone of Ino would match with the stance of a leader, someone Sakura would always follow wherever she went to look for an adventure. "You know what? Screw, Chiyo-sama! I made this party for my lovely girl and she deserves an amazing birthday party to remember. You're going to that party, whether Chiyo-sama likes it or not!"
Sakura was kind enough to wave to the employees of the shops before glaring lightly to her dear friend. "Do you want Chiyo-baachan to skin you alive and hang you over the well to ward of evil spirits?" She could see the roof of the brick-school of Konoha High School, a simply style of two buildings connected with a hallway that stayed open to the good weather. that would be gardened by the Yamanaka Flower Store every year. "I really, really want to go, but I doubt Chiyo-baachan will let me out of the house at all tomorrow..."
"Then I will sneak you out."
Sakura stopped walking altogether, letting the dark cloud of fear and anger get the best of her as the skeletal-impression face slowly looked at the grinning blond. How can she be so cheerful for that idea, huh? "Are you crazy? You're asking for the curse of Thousand Years of Pain, Ino! I don't know what that is, but Chiyo-baachan threatens Onii-sama with it, so I bet she'll use it on you too!"
"I'm not scared of that old woman, Sakura," Ino explained very cooly. Sakura really wished she was brave like her. "Now, tomorrow, just leave your bedroom window open and wait for my signal, okay?"
"This is all nonsense, Ino. I can't-"
"You must!" Ino's eyes bore into Sakura's emerald gems, a glitter of stars danced across the teal pools as Sakura was distracted by how strong her friend was. "This party is for you, not for the Haruno Shrine; there will be non-alcoholic drinks, yummy fatty foods, wonderful music and boys. You like boys, don't you?"
"Y-yeah, but I don't want to date, Ino," Sakura blinked away, looking at a young adult couple, recently married by Chiyo herself a few months ago, walking in the early morning with linked fingers; smiling adoringly to each other as the man was given a free daisy from the florist, Yamanaka Inoichi, Ino's father, and gracefully tucked the little flower behind the beloved girl's ear. The young woman giggled and kissed her husband's cheek quickly before hiding her face into his strong shoulder.
'Someday...can I have that?' Sakura's eyebrows furrowed before Ino snapped.
"You're still not sticking to that old imaginary friend of yours', are you?" Ino tugged lightly on Sakura's arm and began walking away from Ino's father's shop. "How old were you when you came up with him? Five? Maybe six-and-a-half?"
"As long as I can remember, I had him by my side," Sakura's voice was soft, somewhat lost as well.
Ino looked to her friend again, eyes suddenly soften from her stubborn expression as she viewed the sight before her; the early sun faced Sakura's flawless skin, making her whole body glow in a pure white hue as her pink, dolly lips parted to inhale very quietly. Her emerald eyes were easy and in another place that seemed like a fairytale of a princess being lost in the forest, her eyelashes always outlining her eyes like natural eyeliner giving the no-wonder why Sakura never bothered to wear make-up. Her long hair was distinct, thick strands lightly touching her face with the spring's wind guiding it along.
She was just so pretty.
Ino looked down and smiled with a faint blush. "I remember when it was recess, I think we were seven, and you always played alone," Ino's sweet voice drew Sakura out of her thoughts once more as she stared curiously, yet politely. "You would have these group of kids pick on you and throw whatever you were playing with into the woods and you'd go chase after it... You would go in with tears in your eyes and come back out with a smile. When I would ask why you're so happy, you'd say 'Because he told me that things will be okay, Ino!'. Of course, I had no freakin' idea what you were talking about, but it was your imaginary friend, wasn't it? Like your Prince Charming!"
Sakura started giggling and nodded in response. "I can't remember what he looked like, or how he would sound like... But I feel like I'm cheating on his feelings if I were to date any guy." Sakura looked off to the appearing school, smiling mostly to herself as she let the sun embrace her again. "It sounds silly, but I don't regret anything of acting so grown-up. It's like a part of my childhood wants to live on that way."
The spring gave off the beautiful color on the pastel girl and the water-colored mistress. The moment was truly thoughtful until Ino just had to break it off.
"So you can be my Crazy Cat Lady friend... I will dig that."
"YAMANAKA INOOO!"
=xxx=
In someplace far away, much, much, much farther; beyond the stars and the universe itself maybe, we don't know for sure, there is a world that would take you into the childhood book you read in the middle of the night while your parents slept. Of course, we couldn't have been able to read at such a young age, but we could tell ourselves the stories within the fancy texts and the beautiful drawings the mysterious illastrator put onto the white pages. Something new and something we don't see everyday. A world made of fairytale for us, a simple home for the Demon Gods who live there. Our sky is as blue as the ocean; their sky is a purple-ish pink hue with soft clouds. Their grass is much darker green then our own lighter blades, and the trees seem to glow softly in their bark as they sing silently throughout day and night. Everything is different from Earth, that is just how it is.
Within that different world, was a doorless frame that was shaped in vines and leaves of oak and maple. It was as tall as eight-feet and it was placed to be five-feet wide, age of nature and different seasons withering it gently yet it makes it seem more wise with each hundreds of years it sets onto it. Even though it was starting to fall to pieces little-by-little it was still useful for it's given purpose.
Three tall figures stood infront of the empty frame, looking at it longingly as a child would for Christmas to come. The one in front, with the hood up to cover all these facial traits, glanced up to the now violet colored sky as the soft-looking clouds slowly swirled in the eye of the storm above them; seeming content with the conditions of the weather, the cloaked figure made a small grunting noise and slowly sat down on the cool, dark grass. He watched the little water droplets fell of the tip of the blades and land on the black ground, being so distinct and contrasted like light to dark before soaking into the soil.
"Prince," the grey haired figure called out cautiously, not wanting to disturb the cloaked figure sitting silently, waiting. "Do you wish for me to fetch you a drink or a meal?"
The cloak figure didn't turn his head, nor did he move. His voice was low and seductive, years of growing into a more mature state-of-mind had helped without a certain distraction keeping him busy. "No."
"Are you sure, Prince?"
"Kakashi, I said I am fine. Leave me be," the cloaked figure clenched his fist on his knee. He was starting to feel more and more irritated by the constant noise that was breaking his concentration. "Go back home with Dobe and keep him out of trouble."
"Hey! I wouldn't do anything without you around, Teme!" the other cloaked figure growled out, pointing a finger at him in fury. "Theres' no fun in that!"
Kakashi's covered face strained with stress of the situation. He had promise his master that his son would be just fine in his care, now he was told by the prince himself to get lost. How sweet. "Prince, you must be educational in this. It will take time before the door will open."
"I know that, Kakashi," the sitting form said rudely. "Don't bug me."
The hyper-active character standing by Kakashi poked his ribs, getting his attention as if it was the last thing in his world. Kakashi saw how the blonde, youthful-looking man smiled toothly at him and offered a thumbs up, totally ignoring Sasuke's presence. "Ne ne, Kakashiii! Teach me that move I saw you do with Teme. I wanna use it when I battle with my old man!"
Kakashi blinked the only visible eye. "No. You're not strong enough for that."
As if a gong echoed through the thick forest of the world they lived in, Naruto's expression resembled The Scream painting as the childish person complained that the servant of the King entertained the Prince more then the Prince's best friend. "NO FAIR! NO FAIR!"
The constant yells from the blonde figure and the grey haired man's hushing, the cloaked figure ignored all surrounding noises of disturbances, letting his own thoughts drown out anything that didn't please him right now; his friend, his loyal servant and teacher, the noise of the wind, everything. The only thing that he was paying attention to was the sakura trees starting to bloom in his world. The pale pink petals open oh-so-slowly and gaze down at him as if to greet him, the scent of sweetness hit his senses as he takes in the only sweet thing he could tolerate. Yet, the flowers show so much admiration for the dark man, there was only one thing that will be allowed to have a response from him.
His darling flower. Sakura.
'My darling little girl...' the cloaked figure smirked deviously in his own shadow, noticing the small spark that lit within the door frame. 'It won't be too long before your birthday and the door will open and take me to you...'
The commotion of the world, both his and hers, distracted the barriers of the doors that would lead them to one another. He left her at a young age, after the horrible incident that threatened their future bond as one was at stake; ten years in the Human World would simply be an ease for him. But, in his world, it has been more then a century. Waiting to see her, to touch her, to smell her sweet scent was a long dream for him. The thought of her finally becoming eighteen was something he could loosen his tight muscles to, start thinking of all the wonderful things he wants to do to her when he finally finds her. He couldn't stop his own thoughts trying to picture of what the young-adult of the owner of his heart, body, mind and soul would look like, and all the things he wishes to do...
Say her name.
Hum her song.
Touch her hair.
'Eighteen is such a wonderful number...' Eyes opened under the mask, allowing crimson-colored eyes with three commas swirl slowly, burning into his memory when the spark in the doorframes returned, a little bit longer this time.
'Sakura, my darling princess... I'm coming back to you.'
=xxx=
Sakura laughed wholeheartedly when she heard the ending of Kiba's, a classmate of Ino and an old classmate of Sakura before she graduated early, of his story of swimming in the creek with his friend Shino last week and a crayfish nipped him in the rear. His faithful dog, Akamaru, chased after him until he bit the little critter off, but the battle scar remained as a gory memory. Kiba always had funny stories to tell and Shino was a great sound-effecter; giving the stories a better insight with Sakura's wild imagination.
"So yeah, I'm not going swimming in there again," Kiba rolled his eyes and kicked back.
"Well, you were naked at that time," Shino added in that caused the girls to laugh must harder, their cheeks tinting red. He smiled under his scarf that covered most of his face -thought it was warm out, Shino always stayed cold and needed a scarf- and imitated Kiba's shriek of pain when he repeated it over and over, making Kiba more and more pissed off about even mentioning the story in the first place.
"Whatever," Kiba scoffed lazily. "Anyway, Ino, you set the area where we're having Sakura's birthday party, right? I wanna make sure that the invitation text you sent is correct." He pulled out his cellphone and showed the text to the two girls, Ino allowing Sakura to see the text and gape openingly.
"In the forest behind the monument?" Sakura shrieked out. The monument of Konoha was a cliff of legends of Demons who use to lurk in the town of Konoha, either feasting on human flesh or saving them from epidemics. Only one of them was a woman, Sakura was aware of that, but she had never bothered to go beyond the barrier of the monument. Chiyo had always told her that bad things always happen to pure girls who venture pass the unlucky stone. "Ino, do you want my grandmother to kill you?"
"All the best reasons for her not to follow us past there!" Ino smiled evily, a pinky finger touching her glossy lips. "She will never get us there!"
"True...but-"
"Don't worry, Sakura," Kiba caught their attention, both girls looked at him with his toothy grin. "If she comes after us, we will protect you; and if bad luck chases you, we got your back!"
Sakura's doll-like lips pouted softly. She flushed lightly at Kiba's heroing personality; she didn't like Kiba like that, no way in hell was she feeling anything like that towards Kiba. Her heart was totally set for her imaginary Prince Charming.
Yeah, she still...loves him. She doesn't remember his face she came up with, but she thinks every inch of his face was beautiful. The sound of his voice is nothing of a tune to her anymore, but she bet it would have sound like something a professional singer would have: low, seductive, slow and careful with every word spoken. She feels foolish, because she knows Kiba does have a crush on her, and she should grow up and move on from her dream.
But something was holding her back...
Sakura's smile brightened her fear out of her body. "Thanks, Kiba-kun. That's so sweet of you." She stood up from the soft ground of the grass, dusting the small flecks of grass off her white dress. "I have to get back home now; Chiyo-baachan is going to be out and Onii-chan is working. See you guys later!" She was greeted off with smiles and waves as she walked past the iron gates that held the school's sign of KHS. The sun was up higher by the time the church bell went off to signal all the student to get into the buildings to start their classes, the workers in the adult life began their social life of shopping, gossiping and exploring the wonderful town Sakura was proud to call her home.
The walk back never took Sakura too long, not to her anyway. The distractions of people's 'Hello's and colorful people just enjoying their lives like it was their last seemed to be the everyday thing for Konoha, and Sakura was always happy to see that. Walking past the little stones of her boundaries brought her back to the place she knew to her heart; being born and raised here, she knew every secret place that was said on the territory. She was an explorer as a child, getting into everything and anything when no one was looking.
The porch of the shrine was now visible, and Sakura could easily make out the little figure of Pakkun sitting on one of the steps, as if waiting for someone to come home and play with him. Being an old pug he is, he always had the energy of a puppy. Sakura smiled bigger when their eyes met for a moment and she got on her knees in the dirt and began patting her thighs lightly.
"Come here, Pakkun!" Sakura called in a happy tune, giggling as she felt foolish for calling the wise dog. He was sometimes a drama queen, being ordered around with such silly commands. But Pakkun and Sakura were tight, as one might say. "Come here, boy!"
Pakkun didn't move a muscle. Sakura was now somewhat sad about this, giving up the childish act; she got up and sat on the step next to Pakkun's chubby form, reaching gently to scratch behind his ears just the way he liked it. When she heard him give off a gurgly purr for a dog, Sakura sighed with some content.
"You know, Pakkun," Sakura rest her chin on her other hand, looking at the blooming cherryblossoms on the dark trees, "I'm sorta mad that Chiyo-baachan won't let me out after curfew. I mean, I'm turning eighteen and all, so doesn't that make me able to do whatever I want without her hovering over me like that? I'm sure you've noticed how she was this morning, ne?"
Pakkun looked at her distant expression, as if he understood. "I know she worries for me... Both of her sons died and she had to take care of her grandchildren alone. But what about my future? I want to do things I haven't done before, Pakkun. Is that wrong? Can't I have my birthday party of my dreams and maybe have my imaginary Prince Charming?"
Pakkun made a noise. It sounded like a snort and a huff as the same time. Sakura looked down and smiled sweetly. "You remember my imaginary friend, right? He was a boy...and that is all I remember him of, Pakkun. I don't know his face or his voice that I made up for him, but I wish that he was real." She stopped scratching his ears and held her own face up as she stared at the ground, looking at the detail of the dirt. "Do you even remember the name I gave him? 'Cause I don't..."
Pakkun's claws scraped the wooden steps, his energy was coming back as he sprung to his stubby legs and started barking at Sakura, the girl he pretty much protected over the years. Sakura glanced over to the small canine, confused by the performance he was now doing as he climbed up the steep stairs.
Once he reached the top, he continued to bark at the pink haired woman, as if telling her to get off her rear and stand. With more confusion seeping through her veins, Sakura slowly stood up and faced the growling mutt.
"Pakkun," Sakura said cautiously, taking a little step back. "D-do you want to play now?"
His round, wrinkled face growled out as he hopped backwards to the front shouji door of the shine and hop back to face her; his bark never stopping as his worn out teeth stick out of his whiskered lips. Her emerald eyes drawn to the events of the dog, Sakura took one step forward. Seeing that the dog ceased a single note of his bark, she took another step, and then another step...
It wasn't long before Pakkun was guiding Sakura into the shrine and up the stairs.
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Everything he remembers is a dream to her.
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Something horrid took place in sealing away her pleasurable memories, but of what?
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As she ventures to the path of Adulthood, maybe something will answer her...
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But would it be the right thing..?
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Or a fatal consequence for the future bride of the Demon God?
=xxx=
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE-I'm sorry for the suckyness of Chapter One, but I felt like I should show everyone what Sakura's day is usually like until her birthday xD Critics can star their engines if they want, but I might as well pop their tires... BE PATIENT, OKAY? ;w; These things take FREETIME and Kitty doesn't have TOO MUCH OF IT RIGHT NOW -falls out of chair- I need a big glass of milk ;A;
WHAT DO YOU THINK PAKKUN WILL DO? WILL HE GIVE HER A BONE FOR AN EARLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT? OR WILL HE TALK?! OH GAWD, A TALKING PUG IN THE HOUSE! -lederpface-
You know what Kitty likes, right? She likes it when you find a pleasure in Reviewing, Following or Favoriting...or even just leave me alone and never come back because there are so much better authors out there (we all know it's true, people. Throw the tomatos at meh!).